Lewiston: Keeping the ice rink open

Sat, Nov 5th 2016 07:00 am

Plans announced for
shorter operating schedule, sponsorships

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

As discussions
wound up at Town Hall this week on Lewiston's $16.820 million 2017 tentative
spending plan, town officials reported steps are now being taken to resurrect
the Lewiston Family Ice Rink for the upcoming Lewiston Christmas Walk and
holiday season.

She cautioned, "As
of this moment, I can't comment, nothing official." Blazick said no money had
been included for the rink in the town's 2016 budget, and that funding is being
factored in for 2017.

Facing funding
challenges and the return of a town tax, the Town Board had earlier announced
plans to put the Lewiston Family Ice Rink "on ice" for the 2016 season.

"Give us a chance
to do this right," Town Supervisor Steve Broderick said last month of the
town's intent to suspend rink operations for 2016 and return with a workable
plan in 2017.

Dashineau has come
up with a new plan to save the rink. He announced this week the town's
Parks/Recreation Department, together with community organizers, have decided
to take on the task of bringing the rink back to life for this season.

To make it doable,
Dashineau said he would start with utilizing roughly $30,000 in funding
contained in the Recreation Department's operating budget, plus $8,000 in
available Greenway monies, and $7,000 in expendable hydropower money to cover
electrical expenses.

"A total of $47,000
would be coming from the town," he said.

In addition
Dashineau said he would trim the rink's operations from a 60-day schedule to 42
days for the upcoming season. He's envisioning a schedule roughly from the
opening of the Lewiston Christmas Walk on Dec. 2 until Jan. 9, 2017.

Operating hours
were not disclosed. The rink is expected to use town parks employees and
seasonal staffers for its operations, as in past years.

Dashineau said he
estimated the total cost of a 42-day operation to be $74,423, of which the town
would pick up the aforementioned $47,000.

"We will need to
raise close to $35,000," Dashineau said, as he went on to outline a number of
potential funding sources.

Under consideration
is a Village of Lewiston contribution of $5,000; enlisting sponsorships from
area organizations, businesses, individuals and families; plus the selling of
season passes for $25, and daily skate rental charges for users.

"The town has
committed; the village has been great (in its support)," Dashineau said. "(Now)
it's just working with vendors, the community."

Dashineau said a
community sponsorship campaign is now underway, titled, "Lewiston Family Ice
Rink, Become a Sponsor." A promotional flier promotes the family rink and its benefits
to the community, while asking businesses, organizations, families and
individuals to step forward as sponsors. Levels include bronze, $500; silver,
$1,000; gold, $5,000; and donations under $500. A range of benefits is included
at each sponsorship level.

Businessman Tom
Deal of Deal Realty, who announced his support for keeping the rink open
following the town's plans last month, said efforts are already starting to
gain traction in the community.

"As you know, I
have been working behind the scenes with local businesses, residents and our
elected officials to keep the Lewiston Ice Rink open," Deal wrote in a letter
to elected officials and fellow chamber members. "The rink provides a great
opportunity for kids and families to spend time outside during the winter
season. ... We all love Lewiston and the quality of life it offers us, and this
is one more thing that if taken away diminishes what we have here. I am also
sure that many families spend time and money at our various businesses as a
result of their visit to the rink."

Deal continued,
"The good news is that we have a plan in place that will keep the Ice Rink open
this year and, hopefully, for many years to come. As I previously updated you,
the Ice Rink has been included in next year's budget and to keep it open this
year, we have cut expenses and will look to generate additional revenue by
charging a small fee for skating, offering season passes to individuals and
families, (and) look to expand the private party opportunities and offer a greater
variety of packaged food and drinks for sale. We are also counting on sponsors
to remain at their current level or potentially increase to help get us through
this year.

"We are hoping that
others step up as well to become a sponsor and assist us in this cause. The
current plan is calling for 42 days of operation beginning in the first part of
December, but we are hoping that with the additional revenue, we can expand it
to the regular 56 days."

Dashineau said two
unidentified sources have already expressed an interest in assisting on the
sponsorships, and he expects more to come forward. In the meantime, he said he
intends to further discuss his plans of selling preseason passes and other
items with Mayor Terry Collesano and village trustees at Monday's joint
village-town meeting. That session will take place at 5 p.m. at the Red Brick
Municipal Building, 145 N. Fourth St.